Timemore C3 ESP Pro Travel Coffee Grinder Review
Discover the Timemore C3 ESP Pro coffee grinder, a must-have for coffee lovers on the go. Thanks to its innovative folding handle and compact design, this tool is perfect for travel. In this article, I share my experience along with an objective evaluation of its performance. Dive into its features and see why it could become your ally for enjoying excellent coffee, no matter where you are.
I recently invested in the Timemore C3 ESP Pro coffee grinder following my many business trips and my growing use of portable coffee machines. Recommended by several very satisfied acquaintances, this grinder quickly intrigued me. This article is not sponsored by Timemore; I purchased it on my own, for personal use. My goal is to provide you with a test that is as accurate and objective as possible.
Design of the Timemore C3 ESP Pro
The folding handle
As a travel grinder, I quickly opted for the Timemore range because of its folding handle, a major asset. This system, being patented, I found no other brand offering a similar solution. Some will mention the 1Zpresso brand, which also offers a folding handle, but the difference lies in compactness: once folded, the 1Zpresso still takes up space, unlike the Timemore, where the handle fits perfectly flush against the grinder body.
The crank is fully made of metal (stainless steel) and integrated with the aluminum cap. Despite its small size, the handle of the Timemore C3 ESP Pro offers an excellent grip and is equipped with a ball bearing, unlike the clip system used by competing brands such as 1Zpresso, Kingrinder or El Comandante C40. This ensures, in addition to exemplary build quality, that the handle does not accidentally detach from the crank.
When the crank is folded, a rubber stop prevents the metal part of the crank from coming into contact with the grinder body.
Note that with Timemore, the "Pro" designation indicates the presence of a folding crank. There is indeed another version of this grinder, called Timemore C3 ESP, sold at a lower price, but which does not have a folding crank.
Handle Attachment and Grinder Body
Another important aspect to highlight regarding Timemore grinders is the handle attachment with a ball bearing. This ensures smooth rotation of the handle and prevents it from being removed by simply pulling on it. Unlike other competing brands that use a clip system, the attachment here is much more solid. In the case of a clip attachment, there is an increased risk of the handle detaching, and some users have had to contact after-sales service for this problem. An excellent point therefore for Timemore.
The grinder body
The grinder body is entirely made of aluminum. Unlike other brands that opt for a completely smooth body, requiring a rubber ring to improve grip and prevent the grinder from slipping, Timemore has chosen a grooved surface. Personally, I find the grip very comfortable, and during use, the grinder does not spin on itself thanks to this design, despite the torque generated by the grinding effort.
The adjustment dial
Unlike its big brother, the Timemore S3, the adjustment dial on the C3 ESP Pro model is located directly at the burrs level.
While the Timemore C3/C3S models offer 12 clicks per turn, the C3 ESP offers 30, similar to a grinder equipped with the "Red Clix" kit of the C40, which increases the number of available clicks.
The Timemore C3 ESP allows a spacing of 23.3 µm per click.
Here are the recommended settings according to extraction type:
The grind setting is read as follows: the first digit indicates the number of complete turns to make with the adjustment dial, while the second digit specifies which graduation mark to stop at after completing the full turns. For example, a setting of 1.6 means you need to make one complete turn with the dial, then stop at graduation mark 6.
Recommended settings:
How to read positions: the X.Y.Z format indicates the number of complete turns (X), the position on the adjustment dial (Y), and the micro-adjustment in clicks (Z). For example, 1.4.2 means 1 complete turn + position 4 on the dial + 2 clicks of micro-adjustment.
- Espresso12 to 40 clicks(position 0.3.0 to 1.0.0)
- Moka24 to 45 clicks(position 0.6.0 to 1.1.0)
- Pour Over42 to 72 clicks(position 1.0.0 to 1.8.0)
- French Press72 to 84 clicks(position 1.8.0 to 2.1.0)
These settings are indicative and may vary depending on your coffee and preferences.
The S2C600 Burr
The Timemore S2C600 burr is a derivative of the C2C800, formerly used in the Timemore Chestnut X grinder, now discontinued. This new generation, the S2C600, equips several grinders in the Timemore range, such as the Timemore S3 that I tested a few months ago.
The Chestnut X burr had already impressed me with its ability to produce a consistent grind. Timemore has made some improvements, making the grind even more uniform with this new version.
The Catch Cup
In my experience, the quality of the catch cup often reflects the overall design and manufacturing quality of a grinder. For example, the Kinu Phoenix has a plastic catch cup that is too light, which unbalances the grinder when placed on a countertop. The C40, meanwhile, has a lip inside its catch cup, resulting in coffee retention when pouring into the filter.
As for the **[Timemore](https:/
/timemoreeu.com/coffeegeek)**, the container has no internal rim that could cause coffee retention. Moreover, its weight is sufficient to stabilize the grinder by lowering its center of gravity. Unlike other models such as those from 1Zpresso, the container is attached by screwing it on, which adds to its robustness.
Finally, a rubber has been placed under the container to protect the countertop, an appreciable detail that shows the attention paid to the design.
Extracting an espresso with the Timemore C3 ESP Pro
Unlike the Timemore S3, which had greatly disappointed me for espresso, the Timemore C3 ESP Pro allows you to make quality espresso. Here is an example with a La Pavoni machine.
I weigh 16 g of coffee, spray a little water (the RDT technique to reduce retention from static electricity), then I grind it with the Timemore grinder.
Coffee ground using the grinder with an espresso grind. Setting used: 0.50 (graduation 5 from 0, without a full turn beforehand).
To avoid channeling, I break up the clumps and distribute the coffee evenly using my WDT.
Finally, I place a puck screen and perform the extraction.
However, even though it is possible to prepare espressos with this grinder, the Timemore C3 ESP Pro is not my first choice for this extraction. The reas
on principal feature is the burr size, 38 mm, which significantly lengthens the grinding time compared to grinders equipped with larger burrs, such as the Kingrinder K6 or the 1Zpresso J-Ultra, which are more expensive. Find a Timemore C3 ESP Pro coffee grinder on Amazon
With the Timemore C3 ESP Pro, it takes me more than a minute to grind for espresso, while with 47 or 48 mm burrs, the time is reduced to about 40 seconds.
The Excellence of the Timemore C3 ESP Pro for Travel
For me, Timemore has always excelled in extractions requiring a coarser grind, unlike competing brands such as 1Zpresso, which I find more specialized in espresso.
I can guarantee that the grind obtained with the Timemore is truly consistent, reflecting the brand's expertise. Whether for a V60 or with my travel machine: the Pipamoka (which is why I bought this grinder), it is for me the perfect compromise.
The 38 mm burr poses no problem for this type of extraction, as the grinder quickly grinds a coarse grind.
Brewing coffee with the Wacaco Pipamoka
These simple steps allow you to quickly prepare quality coffee, even on the go.
- Grind 14 g of coffee with the Timemore C3 ESP Pro: I use setting 1.9 (one complete turn of the adjustment dial, then up to position 9).
- Pour the ground coffee into the capsule using the small funnel provided to avoid spilling any around it.
- Roughly distribute the coffee in the capsule before closing it.
- Close the capsule using its lid.
- Fill the reservoir with hot water.
- Insert the capsule into the Pipamoka and wait approximately 30 seconds until there are no more air bubbles.
- When the air bubbles have disappeared, close the Pipamoka with the lid.
- Turn the base of the Pipamoka to create extraction pressure.
- And here is the result:
Enjoy your freshly brewed coffee.
Disassembling and cleaning the Timemore C3 ESP Pro
To reassemble and clean the grinder, it's very simple. Here are the detailed steps:
- Completely unscrew the adjustment dial to release the burr.
- Remove the central rod, which provides access to the inside of the grinder.
- Clean the inside of the grinder with a brush or dry cloth to remove coffee residue.
- Reassemble the grinder by following the reverse order: replace the central rod, reinstall the burr, then screw the adjustment dial back on.
These steps ensure easy and quick maintenance
of the grinder, thus ensuring its durability and performance.
Conclusion
I acquired this coffee grinder primarily for my travels, and I mainly use it with my small travel coffee machine, the Wacaco Pipamoka. The Timemore C3 ESP Pro won me over with its small size, its attractive price, its build quality, and the consistency of its grind.
From left to right: the Wacaco Exagrinder, the Timemore C3 ESP Pro, the Timemore S3.
I find it particularly suitable for filter coffee due to its small burr. That said, it is quite capable of producing espressos, although it takes a bit more time to grind the coffee.
To compare Timemore grinders, I clearly prefer the C3 ESP Pro to the S3. The S3 is more bulky, has a larger burr, but it is not suitable for making espressos, unlike the C3 ESP Pro. If you are looking for an even more compact grinder, I invite you to read my review of the **Wacaco Exagrind
er**, designed specifically for this purpose.
- Affordable price
- Excellent value for money
- Build quality and materials used
- Quality and consistency of the grind
- Extremely low retention
- Easy and pleasant to use
- Build quality
- Extremely low retention
- Folding crank (pro version)
- Takes a long time to grind espresso